My Genealogy Hound

George K. Cannefax. Among the important industries of Pulaski County, Mo., worthy of special mention is the flouring mill operated by Mr. Cannefax. He is a native of the county, born June 24, 1837, and up to the age of thirteen years resided on his father’s farm in Missouri. He was then seized with the “gold fever,” and determined to seek his fortune in the mines of California. He took the overland route, driving a team of horses, and reached Placerville, Cal., just six months after starting from Independence, Mo. From Placerville he went to Cold Springs, where he began work prospecting, and discovered a rich placer claim, which he afterward sold. He next went to Volcano, Cal., where he discovered another rich claim, from which he took from fourteen to twenty-seven ounces of ore per day. He worked this claim eight months, and was then taken sick, and was unable to do any work for about four months. Up to the age of twenty-eight years he resided in the following cities in the West: Placerville, Cal., in 1859; Virginia City, Nev., in 1860; Austin, Nev., in 1863; Virginia City, in 1864, where he played in McGuire’s Opera House; San Francisco, in 1865, from which place he started home on August 3 of the same year, reaching Springfield, Mo., on September 3. He met with many stirring adventures during his career in the West, and was quite successful in his mining ventures. After his return home he kept a saloon in Mount Vernon, Mo., for eighteen months, and then engaged in the milling business, which he has since followed. March 20, 1866, he was married to Miss Josephine Haley, who was born in McMinnville, Tenn., in 1850, and by her became the father of eight children: Mattie, wife of B. F. Hunter; Hattie, Caroline, Naomi, Ruthie, Loren, Clyde and Walter. He came from Lawrence County, Mo., to Dixon in 1877, and has had charge of the Dixon Flouring Mills since November 22 of that year. He has a comfortable and pleasant home, and owns Lots Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 9, in Block 24, of Dixon. He is a Democrat, a Mason and a member of the A. O. U. W. His wife’s parents, George and Abigail (Ray) Haley, were natives of Tennessee, and were farmers by occupation. In 1861 the father enlisted in the United States army, and was forage master during the most of the war. Four of their five children are living: Josephine (Mrs. Cannefax), Azaline (Mrs. Freeman), Ruth (Mrs. Rollins) and Bettie (Mrs. Cherry). The parents of Mr. Cannefax, Joseph and Sarah (Callahan) Cannefax, were born in Kentucky and Virginia, in 1798 and 1802, respectively. They moved from Kentucky to Springfield, Mo., in 1840, and there the father spent the remainder of his days, dying in 1846. He was a mill wright and miller by trade, and a thorough mechanic of wood and iron. Only three of his twelve children are living: George R., Robert and I. Binda (Mrs. Crow). Mr. Cannefax had three brothers in the Mexican War: John, William and Chesley. The first and last mentioned died while in the service. The grandparents, Radford and Louisa Cannefax, were among the earliest settlers and farmers of Greene County, Mo. Radford Cannefax was born in Kentucky about 1842. The maternal grandmother, Margaret Callahan, was born in Tennessee, and died about 1849.